Elite Agent
-
5 big lessons from Street MBA Adelaide 2019: Hannah Gill
After much planning, anticipation and excitement, our first ever Street MBA study tour kicked off in Adelaide on 25 July. The good news: it was a huge success. We were fortunate to be visiting three of the best agencies in the state: Ouwens Casserly, Harris Real Estate and Toop & Toop. Our hosts at each office were brilliant; authentic, transparent…
Read More » -
‘Tremendous benefits’ – What the Rockend acquisition means for real estate
There has been a lot to celebrate at Rockend over the past couple of weeks. Firstly, the milestone of 40 years of operation, an extraordinarily proud moment in the company’s history. Secondly, the acquisition of the company by global property software player MRI Software. While MRI Software is a global company with enormous scale, both companies have much in common.…
Read More » -
The ebbs and flows of real estate: Nathan Jones
The ebb and flow of the real estate industry in Australia has been well-documented over the past year, from ongoing discussions around the state of the market to the Royal Commission into Australia’s banking sector. However, it seems pertinent to reflect on the impact we have seen across the industry when it comes to the…
Read More » -
Forget the fast fix
There I was, staring into my old wardrobe. I say old not because it looks decrepit, but because it remains filled with my old clothes; clothes that belong to a body I’m yet to become reacquainted with. The evening was cold and, for the first time this year, my husband and I had a free pass to go out. I…
Read More » -
Property prices continue to turn the corner
There are more positive signs for property prices across the country as the latest data from CoreLogic suggests the market is moving into a recovery phase. This is the second straight month that prices have ticked higher in both Sydney and Melbourne as the positive sentiment in the market continues to improve. Since APRA reduced the buffer rate on borrowers,…
Read More » -
What to do when sales volumes are low
Difficult real estate markets can still provide an opportunity for business growth, a leading real estate accountant says. Live Real Estate Accounts Managing Director Chris Mercer says agency leaders should not only see a changing market as a threat but as a great opportunity for growth. “Not all businesses are on a solid financial footing,”…
Read More » -
All in the family at Ray White Helensburgh
One of Ray White’s oldest members is the sprightly Ken McCarthy – aged 89 – a director of Ray White Helensburgh, a proud member of their now fourth generation family owned business. Mr McCarthy’s grandsons Mattias Samuelsson and Simon Beaufils own Ray White Helensburgh. Mr McCarthy has been in real estate for 40 years. He is still collecting Continuing Professional…
Read More » -
Chinese buyers still strong in Sydney market
What is the state of the Sydney property market in 2019? At Crown Group, we have definitely seen the Sydney property market pick up in the past few months. As early as March, well before the election, we saw buyer behaviour change, with more contracts signed and more exchanges than in the previous 18 months. Then after the election, our…
Read More » -
Know your numbers
It can be hard knowing which financial figures you should measure, monitor and manage in your property management business. As the business owner, you have a responsibility to know your agency’s numbers so you can keep everything on track. Here are five financial figures you should know in your property management business: 1. AVERAGE WEEKLY OR MONTHLY RENT You should…
Read More » -
Eyes on the prize
In life – and in real estate – change is the only constant. Australia has many property market dynamics, nearly all of which are changing from the slight to the seismic. The best way agents can strategise to thrive through the market’s inevitable changes is to have a plan they can implement daily – one that keeps their eyes on…
Read More » -
“Like Afterpay for VPA”: How CampaignAgent is streamlining cashflow for vendors and agents
Sitting on a ski lift on the way up the slopes of a snowy Mt Buller in 2015 is where the idea for CampaignAgent took off. Founded by Seth Watts, a real estate printer, and Shaun Moriarty, a finance professional, CampaignAgent is a Melbourne-based financial technology company that is shaking up vendor paid advertising, reducing…
Read More » -
Transformation through innovation a winner for Noosa agency
Twenty minutes from the hustle and bustle of Noosa’s Hastings Street, Cooroy is a quintessential Queensland country town with one foot firmly planted in the future. Here, the focus is a vibrant community navigating the transition from farming and timber industries to a thriving residential and rural area that is in demand for families, treechangers…
Read More » -
Make it then break it: John Percudani on meeting the agile challenge
Realmark might already be a hugely successful and highly-awarded agency, but Managing Director John Percudani is set to pull apart his business model then reassemble it piece by piece in a bid to improve the customer experience. When Realmark Managing Director John Percudani talks of ‘agile business’ and the ‘customer journey’, he’s not just paying lip service to two of…
Read More » -
Are you working to live or living to work?
More and more Australians are going above and beyond in the workplace, and the real estate industry is far from immune. Kate Strickland ponders the big question of inner guilt and fostering the work/life balance.
Read More » -
The Agency’s Jesse Raeburn to star on The Block
To succeed in real estate it takes a combination of tenacity and drive. It’s clear that the Agency’s Jesse Raeburn has both and it is one of the key reasons Jesse has found success as an agent in a short period of time. Those very same attributes have also managed to help Jesse gain a…
Read More » -
Digital Live to return in 2020
Digital Live will be back bigger and better than ever next year, with one concrete purpose; to move the real estate industry forward in its knowledge of all things digital, while improving access to education for disadvantaged children. It’s no secret that the digital world can be confusing. In an ever-changing market driven by digital,…
Read More » -
Satellite cities take top spots in population popularity contest
Satellite cities and major regional centres are attracting more Australians than capital cities, with the number of Sydneysiders relocating at an all-time high and the Gold Coast becoming the most popular place to move to in the country. According to property market research firm Propertyology, Queensland, Hobart and parts of regional Victoria and New South Wales were the big winners,…
Read More » -
Byron Kerr: A new brand of leader
Byron Kerr isn’t afraid of declining stock levels. In the 2018-2019 financial year, when the Melbourne market was on a downward slide, the O’Brien Real Estate Mentone director and his team sold more properties than the year before. “It was a market with decreased stock levels of about 25 per cent,” he said. “Yet we increased market share by 12…
Read More » -
Recruiting for performance
If you’re a manager or leader you will likely have come across the age-old challenge of balancing values with results. It’s a tough question; how do you create a sustainable culture that balances and upholds set values and is equally performance driven? In any team, there are usually four types of performers. Jack Welch, Chairman and CEO of General Electric…
Read More » -
Auctions this week: Using Market Momentum
Even though the weather still says winter, auction markets are warming up right around Australia – the only problem is a lack of stock. This week our auctioneers are hinting this might actually be a good thing for potential sellers. Queensland: Closing the gap Two-time Australasian Auctioneer Of The Year winner Justin Nickerson of Apollo Auctions feels the past week has…
Read More » -
Business auditor reveals the 7 most frequent failures by Australian organisations
A leading global risk management provider has revealed the most common reasons why organisations fail to meet the goals they set. SAI Global is a trusted global leader in risk management solutions through its standards, assurance and training offerings across more than 130 countries. Over the years they’ve audited thousands of organisations – from the ASX top 200 to SMEs.…
Read More » -
Divide your database in order to conquer
Have you heard the term “divide and conquer”? Of course you have, but what does it have to do with real estate, you’re thinking? When it comes to your database you need to divide in order to conquer. More gently put, I’m talking about long-term nurture versus an active, short-term pipeline of potential vendors. Your strategy around these two similar,…
Read More » -
Business game plan
Firstly, yes: a business plan is important and can help greatly, but a business plan has no hope without belief and action. Having the belief and intention of mind is what creates success, writing it down is just a reminder. So giving yourself a clear reminder of what you want to achieve in the form of a hard copy plan…
Read More » -
Financial wellness for agents: Mikaela Patterson
What’s the difference between success and financial wellness? In real estate, success is different from one individual to the next. It could mean pulling up at a listing presentation in the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster or opening an office in the adjoining postcode. For others, it’s taking every second Friday off to play golf. So what’s financial wellness? Equally, it’s different…
Read More » -
EBM RentCover focuses on educating landlords
For property owners, putting your largest asset in the hands of a tenant who you’ve never met and know little about can be a risky business – and EBM is trying to get the word out. EBM RentCover Managing Director of Sharon Fox-Slater said the company has recently rebranded and she was excited to continue to grow what is already…
Read More » -
Dave Skow: Crossing Borders
On getting into real estate I was the typical real estate fanboy from when I was a teenager, completing school-based work experience at two local agencies and then applying for an entry-level job (after a semester of confirming university was not at all for me). The happiest moment in my career Taking the plunge and opening my own business. The…
Read More » -
Spiro Drossos: Going off-script
With 17 years’ experience under his belt, Barry Plant’s Spiro Drossos reveals why it’s important to have real conversations and to think like a customer – not a real estate agent. On getting into real estate As a kid I was always intrigued by and interested in real estate. This, together with my strong customer service background, made real estate…
Read More » -
Rockend increases commissions on Moving Hub
Cloud software services provider Rockend has announced a 20 per cent increase on the commission that agencies receive from utilities connections provider Movinghub. The Movinghub service is a complimentary service that Rockend made available to Property Tree users in 2018. The service helps agencies to deliver more value to tenants as they move to their new home, and at the…
Read More » -
The Great Equaliser: Caroline Bolderston
Have you ever watched The Amazing Race? Being a competitive person by nature, I love the concept of teams of two, racing around the world to be the first to the finish line. Not to mention they take home USD$1 million. One thing I realised from watching the reality show was the strategy involved in each episode. If no one…
Read More » -
Auctions this week: Buyers are back
According to CoreLogic, the first week of July 2019 saw a combined capital clearance rate above 60 per cent for the fourth consecutive week. With the Federal Election now an almost distant memory, Elite Agent spoke to some of Australia and NZ’s top auctioneers to see if buyers are really back, and what the lead-up to Spring Selling Season is…
Read More » -
18 things that will make you a better leader: Chris Hanley
Don’t ask successful people what they do now; ask them what they did back then to go from there to here. What did they change and what did they implement? I have found most people know what they need to do to be a better leader or salesperson or musician. When tested on what they need to do, most people…
Read More » -
Always be educating: Mark McLeod
Stock management and vendor education are, for many, among the most challenging tasks as a real estate agent. Following one of the deepest and longest sustained growth periods, many agents haven’t developed the skills or understanding needed in this section of the real estate process. This area can be difficult, daunting and, in many cases for the uninitiated and unprepared,…
Read More » -
Is your workflow just a checklist in disguise?
At conferences I’ve been hearing words like “workflows”, “automation” and “AI” being thrown around. Understanding the nuances is key to making the right decisions for the future of your business. For this reason, let’s further investigate the use of the word “workflow”. Great technology is the difference between a simple digital checklist and automated workflows. Checklists assume property management is…
Read More » -
Winning campaign gives power to the people
There aren’t too many people more equipped to sing the praises of Keperra than Glen Milliner. A former Queensland cabinet minister, Glenand his wife Kay raised their three children in the family-friendly suburb nine kilometres north-west of the Brisbane CBD. In a 68-second Why Buy Here video for Harcourts Solutions, the couple face the camera to explain the amazing sporting…
Read More » -
How agents can thrive in a challenging market
Over the past decade, Australia has been in a golden age of property that has seen increasing house prices, happy vendors and competitive buyers – an environment that made things relatively easy for the average real estate agent. However, recent lower auction clearance rates and stagnating buyer activity means agents need to roll up their sleeves and take a new…
Read More »